Mean Blood Lead Levels among Children
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Why Is This Important?
Lead can disrupt the normal growth and development of a child's brain and central nervous system. Children are exposed to lead by swallowing lead dust, soil, or paint chips, breathing lead contaminated air, or eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated by lead.
Definition
Mean (average) blood lead levels in children aged 1-5 years
Data Source
LeadTrax (data through August 2021) and Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System (data after August 2021), Office of Local Public Health, New Jersey Department of Health(https://www.nj.gov/health/childhoodlead/)
How the Measure is Calculated
Numerator: | Sum of blood lead levels in each child aged 1-5 years |
Denominator: | Estimated number of children aged 1-5 years in the population |
How Are We Doing?
The average blood lead level of children aged 1-5 years is declining. The original Healthy New Jersey 2020 target of 2.9 mcg/dL was met in 2007-2010, thus a revised target was set and that one was achieved in 2017-2020.
Available Services
How to Prevent Lead Poisoning in Children: [https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/about/] Consumer Product Safety Commission (lead recalls in consumer products): [https://cpsc.gov/]
Health Program Information
NJDOH Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention: [http://www.state.nj.us/health/childhoodlead/]